U.S. patent number 4,351,302 [Application Number 06/301,272] was granted by the patent office on 1982-09-28 for method and apparatus for reducing automotive pollution.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Brett Enterprises, Inc.. Invention is credited to David H. Brettler.
United States Patent |
4,351,302 |
Brettler |
September 28, 1982 |
Method and apparatus for reducing automotive pollution
Abstract
Apparatus for reduction of pollutant emissions by internal
combustion engines includes a tapered, coaxial multiconical
structure used as a gas separator. The gas separator is used to
provide oxygen enriched air to an engine, thus providing a
reduction in the amount of nitrogen provided thereto. The resulting
exhaust gas includes fewer oxides of nitrogen, reduced quantities
of hydrocarbons, and decreased percentages of carbon monoxide. Air
is directed through the structure, entering at a wide mouth
thereof. A fan may be provided for directing the air through the
structure. The air exiting at the central portion of the narrow end
of the structure, which has an increased ratio of oxygen to
nitrogen, is directed by a conduit to the engine inlet. The
structure is inexpensive, and easily mounted on existing engines,
thus providing a retrofitting device for conforming older cars to
current pollution standards.
Inventors: |
Brettler; David H. (Riverdale,
NY) |
Assignee: |
Brett Enterprises, Inc. (Silver
Spring, MD)
|
Family
ID: |
23162668 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/301,272 |
Filed: |
September 11, 1981 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
123/566;
123/567 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F02M
25/12 (20130101); Y02T 10/12 (20130101); Y02T
10/121 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F02M
25/12 (20060101); F02M 25/00 (20060101); F23L
017/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;55/17,406,438,439,454,391 ;123/566,567,536,539 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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|
|
|
|
|
|
743192 |
|
May 1943 |
|
DE2 |
|
584762 |
|
Feb 1925 |
|
FR |
|
253698 |
|
Jun 1926 |
|
GB |
|
Primary Examiner: Lazarus; Ronald H.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Berman, Aisenberg & Platt
Claims
I claim:
1. A concentrator which comprises:
(a) a plurality of concentric imperforate frustoconical sections of
approximately the same height and having substantially the same
projected apex,
(b) baffles between and supporting the frustoconical sections,
(c) an inlet end,
(d) an outlet end,
(e) an inversely-tapered immperforate frustoconical section and
(f) an outlet tube,
the concentric frustoconical sections having wider and narrower
bases, the wider bases comprising the inlet end and lying
substantially in one plane and the narrower bases comprising the
outlet end and lying substantially in another plane parallel
thereto;
the baffles being spaced from each other and perpendicular to the
frustoconical sections they support;
the inversely-tapered section surrounding and being substantially
concentric with the outlet tube and having its narrower end at the
outlet end; and
the outlet tube having an inlet at or immediately downstream of the
projected apex.
2. A concentrator according to claim 1 in combination with a fan
positioned to direct fluid toward and into the inlet end of the
concentrator.
3. A combination according to claim 2 which comprises a motor to
drive the fan and wherein the motor and fan are secured to the
concentrator.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to devices for reducing the concentration of
pollutants in exhaust emissions of internal combustion engines, and
more specifically to such devices operating on the basis of
enriching the oxygen content of air taken in by the engine, and the
method associated with their use.
2. Background Art
The use of denitrified air to reduce the content of toxic compounds
from exhaust gases of automotive engines is known in the prior art.
Nakajima et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,817,232, for example, discloses
the delivery of denitrified air, containing oxygen in a major
proportion, to a carburetor of an internal combustion engine.
The disclosed apparatus, however, is applicable to an internal
combustion engine only after major modifications in the engine
structure. Moreover, the patented structure requires the use of two
pumps, forming an integral part of the air intake system for the
engine, along with an air denitrifying unit. The latter operates by
using a nitrogen impermeable membrane, for example, or a specified
molecular sieve formed of pulverized zeolite.
Such a structure is complex, expensive, requires major engine
modification, and is thus not easily adaptable for use with older
cars, subsequent to production and sale.
McKerahan, U.S. Pat. No. 1,339,211 discloses the use of a rotary
concentrator for delivering oxygenated air at its output, in order
to obtain a fuel saving by more complete combustion in smelting
furnaces, blacksmith fires, steam boilers, gas engines and the
like.
The disclosure, however, merely contemplates the use of centrifugal
action to separate and concentrate oxygen. There is no disclosure
of any readily available device to be used for such a concentrator.
No suggestions are provided for reduction of output pollution with
the aid of a static concentrator, nor is any indication provided
for combining the device with carburetor intakes for automotive
internal combustion engines in order easily and inexpensively to
update an automotive engine to comply with pollutant emission
standards.
In summary, the prior art requires complex devices having a number
of moving parts for air oxygenation of internal combustion engines.
The prior art thus fails to provide simple, inexpensive devices for
pollution reduction in new and existing automobiles, and
particularly fails to provide use of static gas separator
structures for such applications.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to overcome
the difficulties of the prior art, and to provide an inexpensive
device for reduction of pollutant emissions from automotive
internal combustion engines.
It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a simple
method and apparatus for retrofitting existing automobiles to
comply with stricter emission standards therefor.
Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a static
gas separator for use in conjunction with an air inlet for an
automotive internal combustion engine in order to increase
combustion efficiency and reduce pollutant emission thereby.
It is still a further object of the invention to provide a
stationary, coaxial, multiconical structure in conjunction with an
air inlet of an internal combustion engine to increase the
operating efficiency and to decrease the pollutant emissions
thereof.
In accordance with the foregoing and other objects of the
invention, a frustoconical structure is utilized for reducing the
nitrogen content and enriching the oxygen content of air provided
for use in an internal combustion engine. The structure has no
moving parts and may be mounted on newly produced or existing
engines, and is useful to conserve fuel as well as to reduce the
emission of pollutants by the engine.
When used with internal combustion engines for aeronautical use,
the oxygen enriching structure disclosed herein further provides
for increased flight ceilings and increased flight speeds.
Mounting structure is provided for connecting the separator to an
air inlet of the engine, thereby to retrofit existing cars with the
device for compliance with pollutant emission standards. The
inventive gas separator may be simply attached to an inlet in an
air horn for a carburetor breather, for example. Such use
advantageously satisfies stricter emission standards without
requiring the use of unleaded or high-octane gasoline.
The present invention further includes the method of using the
above described structure by connecting the separator to an engine
air inlet thereby to change the composition of air supplied to the
engine.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the
invention will become more readily apparent upon reference to the
following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, when
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which like
numbers refer to like parts.
FIG. 1 shows, in simple block diagram form, an illustration of the
broad concepts embodied by the present invention;
FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal view of the invention;
FIG. 3 shows a partial end view of the invention;
FIGS. 4a and 4b show two connections of the inventive separator to
an automotive internal combustion engine.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawing, an apparatus for reducing pollutant
emissions of an internal combustion engine as used on automotive
vehicles, for example, is shown in FIG. 1. In the figure, standard
components of an automotive internal combustion engine are shown as
an air inlet 10, an air cleaner 12, and a carburetor 14.
As is known in the art, typical engines operate by mixture of a
fuel with air in carburetor 14, the resulting charge being provided
to the engine for timed detonation in a plurality of cylinders. It
is also known to provide individually mixed charges for each of the
individual cylinders in a system known as a gas injection engine.
Since carburetion of the fuel does not form part of the present
invention, it is seen that the block labelled carburetor in FIG. 1
may be replaced by a plurality of individual gas injection devices,
each mixing and providing an individual charge for individual
cylinders.
Whether a fuel injection or a carburetion system is used, however,
a common feature is the need to obtain air, through an inlet 10,
for mixing with the fuel. The air inlet supplies air to an air
cleaner, for removal of particles harmful to the fuel injectors or
carburetor, screening and filtering of the air prior to passage to
the carburetor or fuel injectors.
The present invention provides a static gas separator 16, easily
connected to inlet 10, for modifying the composition of the air
supplied to the carburetor.
By separating heavier from lighter components of the incoming air,
it is possible to separate the oxygen and nitrogen components
thereof. The present invention contemplates using the separator to
provide oxygen rich air to air inlet 10 for mixture with fuel in
carburetor 14 and for combustion in the engine.
By removing nitrogen from the air supplied to the carburetor, the
formation of oxides of nitrogen as products of combustion is
reduced. If all the nitrogen is removed from the incoming air, no
nitrogen oxides will be formed in combustion. Accordingly, an
immediate benefit of the use of the separator 16 is the reduction,
or elimination, of nitrogen oxides from the exhaust emissions of
the engine. These oxides are undesirable byproducts of the internal
combustion process, and their production is tightly controlled
under current regulations for limitation of automotive
pollution.
A further advantage of the use of a separator as shown in the
Figure is that, with oxygen enriched air, more complete combustion
is obtained, thus reducing the quantities of hydrocarbons and
carbon monoxide in the engine exhaust. Production of most of the
undesirable pollutant emissions is thus reduced by use of the
separator as contemplated herein.
Additionally, with more complete combustion of the fuel, an
additional benefit of the present invention is that of increased
fuel efficiency.
Moreover, use of the invention with aeronautical engines permits
flights to ascend to heights beyond previous ceilings, inasmuch as
the rarified air at the higher altitudes is oxygen enriched by the
invention prior to combustion in the engine. Lower octane fuel may
generally be used in engines utilizing the inventive separator,
whether for land based or aeronautical use.
Referring now to FIGS. 2-3, the separator of FIG. 1 is generally
shown at 16. The static structure is seen to include a tapered,
frustoconical shape, provided by an outer shell 18. Arrows 20 are
provided to indicate the general direction of air flow into the
device.
Shell 18, which is formed as a frustum of a cone, includes a wide
opening 22 and a narrow opening 24. The wide opening 22 acts as an
inlet for the flowing air, and narrower opening 24 provides an
outlet for the device. While the preferred embodiment described
herein is shown as a right cylindrical frustoconical structure,
other tapered shapes may also be used. The significant aspect of
the structure is its narrower outlet when compared with its broad
inlet.
In order to enhance the operative effect of the structure, a number
of additional frustoconical elements are utilized. As seen in the
Figures, elements 26 and 28 are each formed as a frustum of a cone,
each disposed coaxially with shell 18. Additionally, the
frustoconical elements 26 and 28 are preferably disposed so that a
single point 30 is the apex for each truncated cone.
As further shown in FIG. 2, the wide openings of elements 26 and 28
are substantially coplanar with opening 22 of shell 18. The air
flowing into the inlet of the separator thus encounters the effects
of all of the cones simultaneously.
Similarly, the narrow openings of elements 26 and 28 are similarly
coplanar with opening 24 of shell 18, to form the outlet of the
device. The various openings need not, however, be coplanar as
depicted for the preferred embodiment.
A plurality of baffles are placed in the structure, preferably
regularly spaced as shown by baffles 32 which are spaced
120.degree. apart. The baffles are used to support the structure,
particularly to separate the various elements and to maintain a
desired spacing therebetween, as shown at FIG. 2.
In addition to providing structural integrity for the static
separator of the invention, the baffles also serve to direct the
gas flow longitudinally from inlet to outlet. The longitudinal
baffles thus serve to decrease turbulence in the air flowing
through the device.
The plurality of frustoconical structures terminate at a collar 34
at their narrow ends, from which issues the gas shown as entering
the structures by arrows 20. While the theory of operation of the
device is not required to be disclosed, it is believed that the
heavier constituent molecules of the entering fluid, upon colliding
with the tapered sides of the device, are directed thereby towards
the center of the outlet thereof, at 24. More specifically, the
heavier molecules are directed towards the apex of the various
conical structures, at 30. The lighter constituent molecules, upon
such collisions, are similarly directed. However, during the random
collisions which occur between the heavier and lighter molecules
subsequent to such focusing of the fluid, the lighter molecules,
having the lesser kinetic energy and momentum, are deviated from
their paths, while the heavier molecules, having the greater
kinetic energy and momentum, retain their velocities towards the
apex at 30. As a result of such collisions, the lighter molecules
exit the narrow opening at 24, and collar 34, having more randomly
distributed velocities and directions, while the heavier molecules
are primarily directed towards the center of the exit opening.
The exiting fluid is thus seen to have a greater concentration of
its heavier molecular components at the center of the outflow, and
a greater concentration of lighter molecular components at the
periphery of the outflow.
An appropriately sized outlet tube 36, subtending an appropriate
central portion of the outlet area, thus provides an outlet fluid
stream at 38 which includes a greater concentration of the heavier
molecular components than the outlet fluid stream at 40, emerging
from the peripheral areas of outlet 24. In order to provide an
unobstructed path for the outlet fluids, an inversely tapered
section 42, coaxial with the tapered frustoconical shell 18 and
elements 26, 28, is provided.
In the preferred embodiment, wherein the fluid passing through the
device is a gas, and more specifically air, the heavier, central
portion of the outlet stream includes a greater concentration of
oxygen molecules, while the lighter, peripheral portion of the
outlet stream includes a greater concentration of nitrogen
molecules. Accordingly, the outlet stream 38, issuing from outlet
tube 36, is oxygen enriched as compared to the concentration of
oxygen in the inlet stream 20. Upon supplying the oxygenated stream
issuing from outlet tube 36 to an internal combustion engine, the
several advantages previously described accrue beneficially to the
engine's operation.
It is understood, however, that a collecting tube, not shown, may
be provided to gather the peripheral, lighter outlet stream issuing
from section 42. Moreover, any number of central outlet tubes may
be provided, each subtending a successively greater central area,
thereby to provide successively lighter outlet streams separated
from the inlet fluid stream. Such outlet tubes may be disposed as
coaxial cylindrical members within the inversely tapered section 42
to collect the appropriately concentrated streams, with various
conduits provided to convey the collected streams to their ultimate
destinations.
It is understood that the entering size of outlet tube 36 is of
significance in determining the concentration of heavier molecules
in the fluid stream collected thereby. An appropriately sized
conduit is connected to the orifice to convey the collected stream
to a utilization device therefor.
Referring now to FIGS. 4a and 4b, the air inlet 10 to an internal
combustion engine is shown at 10a and 10b, respectively.
In FIG. 4a, the air inlet is shown as including an air horn 44
extending from an air cleaner container 46, typically mounted on a
carburetor. A damper 48 is typically provided in such air horns,
operated by a vacuum control 50 receiving engine vacuum via a hose
52. In operation, a push rod 54 is activated by control 50 in
response to vacuum conditions of the engine to move damper 48,
thereby to select varying mixtures of air from opening 56,
receiving ambient air, and opening 58 at the bottom of horn 44,
receiving heated air.
In the present embodiment, such a connection may be modified to
receive at its bottom opening 58 a conduit 60, connected at its
other end to outlet tube 36 of the present static separator. A set
screw 62 is provided to determine the minimum position for damper
48, thereby to determine the minimal input concentration of
oxygenated air to the engine. Preferably, damper 48 is positioned
to provide only oxygenated air to the engine. Control 50 may be
disconnected, and opening 56 may be effectively sealed.
Alternatively, other controls may be provided to determine the
setting of damper 48 in response to specific engine operating
conditions, in which non-oxygenated air may be input through
opening 56.
Referring now to FIG. 4b, an alternate connection of the inventive
device to an engine air inlet 10b is shown. Specifically, the
separator 16 provides an oxygenated outlet stream at outlet tube
36. Outlet tube 36 is connected to conduit 60, appropriately shaped
for mounting directly onto the air inlet of carburetor 14.
Similar connections may be provided for mounting an oxygenating
concentrator on a turbine engine, by appropriately sizing the
conduit for proper connection thereto.
It is appreciated that to obtain greater quantities of oxygenated
air, as may be required by larger engines, a plurality of such
concentrator devices may be operated in tandem, with the streams
collected by the various outlet tubes 36 thereof being combined for
input to an engine. Alternatively, larger separators may be used,
to provide greater outlet stream volumes from individual
devices.
It is further understood that with greater inlet stream velocity,
the heavier molecules in inlet stream 20 are possessed of greater
momentum and kinetic energy. It is thus noted that the separation
effect is more pronounced for faster flowing fluids than for slower
flowing streams of fluid, since the heavier molecules are deviated
still less from their focused orientation by collisions with
lighter molecules. Accordingly, a fan-like arrangement is shown in
phantom at FIG. 2.
A fan 64 may be placed in front of opening 22 of the device, the
fan operated by an electric motor 66, for example.
In a specific application of the present static separator, a 1974
Chrysler Newport was modified by the addition of the device to
reduce pollutant emission. The emissions of hydrocarbons, in parts
per million, and percentages of carbon monoxide were measured at
speeds of 500-600 RPM, representing idling conditions, and at
speeds of 900-1000 RPM, representing operating speeds. The tests
were conducted without the device, with the device, and finally
with the device and a fan connected to impart added velocity to the
incoming air stream. As expected, substantial improvements were
shown in reduction of output pollutants. The results are summarized
in Table I below.
TABLE I ______________________________________ SEPARATOR: OFF ON ON
OFF ON ON FAN: OFF OFF ON OFF OFF ON PARAMETER
______________________________________ RPM 900-1000 500-600 HC
(ppm) 259 39 13 351 367 42 CO (%) 1.99 0.48 0.05 3.13 2.05 0.32
______________________________________
As is apparent from the above results, substantial improvements in
pollutant emissions are attained, with increased improvements for
increased incoming air speed. The separator was mounted by a
bracket 68, shown at FIG. 2, to receive air from the engine cooling
fan. At increased engine speed, the air entry velocity is thus also
increased. In every category, pollutant emissions were reduced with
increased engine speed, and further reduced with the addition of an
operating fan. Such a device, or any other device for generating
air flow through the separator, may thus advantageously be used
further to reduce pollutant emissions.
There has thus been described a fluid separating device, for
separating a fluid stream into a plurality of streams having
differing concentrations of heavier to lighter constituents
thereof. The device includes an inlet and a narrower outlet, and a
structure at the outlet for separating the outlet stream into its
various components. The device structure may be tapered, and
preferably is frustoconical in shape, and may include any number,
1, 2, . . . , K of frustoconical elements therein.
The outlet separating structure for the outlet stream includes
apparatus for separating a central portion of the outlet stream
from a peripheral portion thereof. Any number of such separating
structures may be used. Specifically, where K frustoconical
elements are used, for example, there may be K separating devices,
each including a coaxial inlet subtending a portion of the outlet
stream. The subtended portion may correspond to one of the
frustoconical elements, but need not necessarily do so. The
separating structure further may include an inversely tapered
device, to minimize the possibility of the lighter components
recentralizing in the outlet stream.
In a specific use of the fluid separating device, a gas, such as
air, is separated into outlet streams having greater and lesser
concentrations of oxygen. Such a device is used in conjunction with
an internal combustion engine to provide an enriched, oxygenated
air flow thereto, resulting in increased efficiency of operation,
reduced emission of pollutants, and reduced consumption of
fuel.
The preceeding specification describes the preferred embodiment of
the invention as an illustration and not a limitation thereof. It
is appreciated that equivalent variations and modifications of the
invention will occur to those skilled in the art. Such
modifications, variations and equivalents are within the scope of
the invention as recited with greater particularity in the appended
claims, when interpreted to obtain the benefits of all equivalents
to which the invention is fairly and legally entitled.
* * * * *